A lot is happening in Nigeria, to Nigerians, and a lot have been said about the challenges or what’s going wrong… One of the ways to manage “change” is to stay ahead of the problems.
We should ask about the outcome of the meeting of the past Presidents/Heads of State with the current president? Trust and good communication process need to be ensured.
Withdrawing to barracks or muting of the security operatives isn’t suitable for the progress of the country. If possible, the President should address every week and show the execution of action plans that will benefit the masses.
As part of the problems is religion and tribalism/nepotism/sectionalism, can we have credible individuals at the grassroot or limelight that could speak to their subjects or followers? Perhaps, we could use local government or political wards pattern, even credible street leaders ,but not politicians; present or past… Our religious and traditional institutions might have also missed it but might be better to stake it than politicians.
What’s the stand of youth groups and civil society groups? If there’s a will, there can be a way. Dialogue should commence, especially with critical thinking of the way forward.
Individuals should put behind the pains, egos and interests and see how Nigeria can emerge out of this terrible time and situation. No blame-game and no pity-party, rather ubuntu is what we need. Planning ahead won’t be suitable if today is ruined.
As good as some are thinking of forming political parties or joining one, we don’t have to ignore that the happenings lately could be a long walk into uncertain and ambiguous days ahead. Therefore, within the set aggrieved could come relevant ideas for conflict transmutation.
We could do our part now and leave the remaining for posterity to determine if it’s a success or a failure.
Things can’t continue this way and we stay mute. A whole lot of reorientation have to begin and be sustained. If we have experienced or experimented “door to door” campaign in Nigeria, we can make efforts to redirect the energy off the verge of another war and chart a new course together as a nation.
A time of adversity could be taken as a feedback from the people been led, and maximized for a greater tomorrow by solving the matters arising collaboratively.
In conclusion, in the journey to a new Nigeria, there’s need for empathy, energy, enthusiasm.
– Isaac K. Obajemu writes from Lokoja.
